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The local rag did an article on the increase of under 8's regularly drinking energy drinks, (Monster, Red Bull etc). Whilst I agree it definitely isn't the best thing you could do for your kids, it also mentioned about tea and coffee also not being suitable for young children.
Our boys are 6&4 and regularly (although not every day) have a small cup of tea with half a sugar with their breakfast and very occasionally a small milky coffee. Is this something we should re-consider until they are older?
What harm are we potentially doing?
What harm are we potentially doing?
You're letting them ruin tea with sugar, and putting milk in coffee.
you want your children caffeinated??!?!?! 😯
Mine would explode!
Have you got tamazepam in the water or something?
I gave my daughter full fat Coke once.
ONCE!
Never again. She had transformed within seconds into this...
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Now I wouldn't put a combination of caffeine and sugar within 100 yards of her. Why on earth would anyone give a child energy drinks? 😯
[i]You're letting them ruin tea with sugar, and putting milk in coffee. [/i]
I'm struggling to think why you'd give tea, coffee or milk to chilidren.
❓
[i]Why on earth would anyone give a child energy drinks?[/i]
Lazy parents and pester power?
I'm struggling to think why you'd give tea, coffee or milk to chilidren.
I know, milk? for children? unheard of.
OP as long as you balance it out with quality downers you're safe. Gee's Linctus or full fat Benylin should sort it.
[i]I know, milk? for children? unheard of.[/i]
Funny that, I thought most parents allow their children to drink milk.
Binners i feel your pain...my daughter does the same! are they related? 😀
my son knows that he's not allowed to go near my energy drinks which i only have at the end of a big ride. isnt an issue as my energy drinks are red coloured and he seems to have an aversion for any drink thats red
i have to hide them from my daughter as she will go for any soft drink that she can spot
my wife is the only one who drinks tea or coffee. kids arent allowed fizzy pop/sugary stuff on a regular basis...only as a treat.
Make your mind up
Milk? To children? Imagine!
Personally I wouldn't (and don't) give them any caffeine though they're a little younger than yours anyway. We do give her camomile as it's caffeine free and she likes to have a "tea" when everyone else is.
I also wouldn't add sugar to anything I give them.
[i]Make your mind up [/i]
Thanks for the advise, I know what I believe, perhaps you should re-read the thread.
🙂
Perhaps I should but I'm not going to cos it's lunch time and the missus says I've got to go to morrisons to get the kids some pseudoehphidrine and razor baldes
Check out nhs website for more info.
Apparently , it's the tannin in tea which interferes with iron absorption that's the longer term health problem.
Caffeine and sugar are just options.
Sensibly, a milky tea or coffee once a day won't do them any harm. I was drinking the same at that age, gradually reduced the sugar and milk when I was 7-8, no health or behavioural consequences then or 35 years later.
Mine are a bit older than yours, but just don't like the taste, but will drink hot chocolate.
I guess you could even stoop so low as to give them decaf if the caffiene worried you.
Far more concerned by fizzy drinks loaded with sugar. Again mine don't like the taste or the bubbles, so not a problem for us. Not all kids react to cola the same way, most of my sons mates drink coke, most are fine with it, but they tend to have a balanced diet anyway.
Some parents we know happily chug coke into their little darlings and then wonder about behavioural issues. I have not punched any of them yet for their stupidity, but it's been close.
As for full on energy drinks in kids, well, it just shouldn't happen, and anyone who can't grasp that needs to take a serious look at themselves and their parenting.
[i]I guess you could even stoop so low as to give them decaf if the caffiene worried you. [/i]
While not endorsing coffee for children, doesn't the process of removing the caffiene actually make coffee even [i]worse[/i] for you/them?
[i]Far more concerned by fizzy drinks loaded with sugar.[/i]
[i]As for full on energy drinks in kids, well, it just shouldn't happen, and anyone who can't grasp that needs to take a serious look at themselves and their parenting. [/i]
Definitely.
Kids occasionally finish our cups of tea, haven't noticed any immediate effects, unlike coke which eldest loves but he goes batshit when he drinks it - so he doesn't get it often.
Wouldn't let them anywhere near energy drinks, I really would not want to see the result!
does the process of removing the caffiene actually make coffee even worse for you/them?
No, it's done with heat.
You should get a cross trainer - if my nephews take in too much sugar they have to do cross training until they calm down. It is both prevention and cure, and genius if you ask me.
[i]hels - Member
You should get a cross trainer - if my nephews take in too much sugar they have to do cross training until they calm down. It is both prevention and cure, and genius if you ask me. [/i]
Hook up a small electricity generator to the Xtrainer, then should your house suffer a power cut, you're sorted.
I wouldn't dream of giving my kids tea or coffee (despite being allowed coffee myself from an early age). They are five years old and so far have never had a fizzy drink and only had McDonalds' on two (emergency) occasions whilst travelling.
Mine have McDonald's once or twice a month, as a treat, as part of a balanced diet/lifestyle.
Neither have yet descended into a drug and drink addled obese life of benefit scrounging debauchery yet, and the eldest is now at secondary!
and the eldest is now at secondary!
not bad for a 17 year old!
McDonalds' on two (emergency) occasions
Unless it was for a McShit I fail to see how it could be an "emergency"?
[i]Unless it was for a McShit I fail to see how it could be an "emergency"? [/i]
2 McD's in five years is pretty good going, imo. Considering.
MoreCashThanDash - MemberMine have McDonald's once or twice a month, as a treat, as part of a balanced diet/lifestyle.
Neither have yet descended into a drug and drink addled obese life of benefit scrounging debauchery yet, and the eldest is now at secondary!
*phones social services*
😉
Some good answers, and some humourous ones thanks. I'll check out the NHS info thanks LOUM and cheers MCTD, I've always done the "everything in moderation" approach with food and drink, and they even ask now "is this good/bad for me?" but I was more concerned with along the lines of what LOUM pointed out. I don't notice any change in behaviour after they've had it, certainly not compared to chocolate, squash or ketchup anyway, that seems to definitely affect them so we avoid or restrict it.
I wasn't allowed rice crispsies as a child 🙁
Not much to add other than my mum used to pack me a wee flask of tea in my lunchbox in winter when I was a nipper. Never killed anyone or expelled due to behavioural issues.
[i]I wasn't allowed rice crispsies as a child[/i]
Yeah? And look how you turned out.
😉
This was the article if peeps are interested:
Solo - Member
Make your mind up
Thanks for the advise, I know what I believe, perhaps you should re-read the thread.
And you need to switch on your sarcasm detector 😆
ever had a fruit shoot - i can't remember why i did - but it's unbelievably sweet.
Unless it was for a McShit I fail to see how it could be an "emergency"?
First was in LA at the end of a long flight, they were starving (aged 3 years old) and the most familiar food we could find was chicken nuggets, the other was at Donnington Services after being held up behind an accident for several hours and again, it was the food we felt they were most likely to eat.
Neither times did they eat it 🙂
[i]And you need to switch on your sarcasm detector[/i]
So missed what I was saying too then.
CBA
🙂
[i]chicken nuggets[/i]
[b]vom[/b]
[i]Neither times did they eat it[/i]
I'm not surprized.
Chicken selects >> chicken nuggets.
Neither times did they eat it
Far to frightfully common for the little darlings, I expect? *
* and yes I am winding you up but you sound like you need it!
[i]and yes I am winding you up but you sound like you need it! [/i]
[i]molgrips - Member
Now so far this thread has been a bit of a laugh, but that's nudging me towards annoyed[/i]
😐
Solo - I'm back from the shop, what have I missed? 🙂
[i]Solo - I'm back from the shop, what have I missed?[/i]
Zip !
😐
How busy is it at Morrisons?
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It could lead to a problematic future.
Very. Full of morlocks buying amphetamines, LSD and milk for their mutated offspring, that and the elderly wasting their dwindling allocation pointlessly musing over their selection of cabbage.
Still, 10 cadbury's mini rolls for £1.37 musn't grumble
[i] thestabiliser - Member
Very. Full of morlocks buying amphetamines, LSD and milk for their mutated offspring, that and the elderly wasting their dwindling allocation pointlessly musing over their selection of cabbage. [/i]
That'll be why I avoid Morrisons then.
66D.
Ain't seeing that pic.
😐
You're missing out on lifes rich tapestry
Binners - phoned social services, just told me to have tea ready for 5.30 when she gets home. Obviously not a MaccyD's takeout tonight 🙁
[i] thestabiliser - Member
You're missing out on lifes rich tapestry [/i]
Oh, that someone might post such a remark, on here...
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Very brief as just about to start surgery...I believe the issue with caffeine and kids is that it can affect bone growth (deposition vs uptake).
Use that as the basis for a thorough medscape (i.e google) search and I'm sure you'll come up with answers.
DrP
I let my daughter have diluted down Torq - about 1/2 strength - at basketball practice and games (she's 8). It's pretty intense sport, akin to 5-a-side football and I'm more disposed to thinking that it'll be a darn sight better for her than fruit shoots or sugary drinks that others seem to take, and give her a bit back rather than just water. Poor sod is usually totally flaked after 2 x 20 minute games as it is!
I think part of the issue is dressing these high sugar high caffeine drinks like Red Bull and Monster up as 'Energy' drinks. They're worlds apart from proper sports energy drinks like Torq and SIS, and while the report I read also said
The researchers convincingly argued that sports drinks are unnecessary for children and adolescents doing average amounts of physical activity,
I'd suggest they (proper sports drinks) have usefulness during intensive activity as opposed to 'average amounts'.
The second* word I uttered was "coffee". From before I could talk, my Dad and I would have a brew every morning, me very milky Camp Coffee.
* the first was "screwdriver" - had amassed a good collection of coloured electricians' screwdrivers from an early age
I'm fairly sure that from about the age of 8 I was perfectly capable of making my own tea or probably a pot for everyone else too, whilst I was at it. I can't ever remember NOT drinking tea! From about 11 or 12 when I started going fishing regularly I was making a flask of 3 cups of coffee as tea didn't keep well. The only effect I can remember was it keeping me warm in the early hours of the morning in January.....